This is our modern day baby book! It is our prayer that years from now, Zeke and Adalynn will look back at the details of this blog and understand just how much we looked forward to meeting them and love them!







Saturday, July 8, 2017

4th of July + Daddy's quick visit


July 4, 2017

As I've mentioned, Gregg has been traveling a LOT this summer.  He was in Alaska for July 4th.  We stayed home for the most part, but managed to do a few special things.  Our friends, the Crumps, gave us a cupcake decorating kit for Uncle Sam cupcakes.  We decided to make our favorite carrot muffins and topped them with whipped cream for a fun treat!

We had our friends, the Almeidas, over to swim on Monday and stayed home on the 4th.  We were actually in our PJs until we go dressed to take some pictures that you'll see below.  We had hot dogs for dinner and Zeke and I watched fireworks out our front window that were being set off at the winery in our neighborhood!  

Uncle Sam muffins


Ready for church!

Swimming with silly Zachary!

Relaxing in the pool

Our own little photo shoot on the 4th

Happy girl

Sweet big boy

Sweet girl

These two adore one another

Outtake #1

Outtake #2 (going for that red bow!)

All 3 in the same 6/9 month outfit minus the lace for Zeke
(Zeke and Adalynn were around 5 months, Lily Faith is 13 months!)

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

Although, the 4th was a day of celebration for many, our family was mourning that day.  My Uncle Joe (my dad's sister, Nancy's, husband) went to be with the Lord on July 4th.  We will miss him dearly.  We thank God for the 2 grand baby boys that he got to meet before he passed.  Colton (Reed's son) and Roy (Ross' son) are a light during a time of darkness for our family.  I know Nancy and the boys would appreciate your prayers during this difficult time.  

Uncle Joe was not big on photos, so my mom found this one she had placed in a scrapbook from Christmas 2002.  The outside of the picture is not in great condition, but it's a sweet picture of Uncle Joe and Aunt Nancy.  




Daddy comes home

Gregg came home from Alaska and was able to spend 2 days with us.  He left for Canada today at 3:30am (yikes!).  We had such a nice time together for 2 days, though.  We look forward to the end of the month when all 5 of us get to go to Hilton Head together to spend time with my parents and Jared, Jami, and the girls!

The salmon he caught for us!


All is right in their world!

Love these guys!

The kids watching Gregg get the umbrella out of the pool (it was a wood pole that had swollen and gotten stuck in the water).  It required major maneuvering, but he did it!

Selfie after our haircuts!
That is all for now.  I'll post again after we return home from the beach.  Praying for you all!  Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

June 2017


Memorial Day

June passed very quickly and I missed posting!  We celebrated my birthday, our anniversary, and Father's Day.  We also spent a week up at Wynna and Granddaddy's house so Zeke and Adalynn could attend camp.  I'll talk more about that below.  The highlight of our month, though, was Zeke's decision to commit his life to the Lord!  I can't forget to mention that Lily Faith started walking too!

Welcome Home Daddy!

Gregg was away for work for 18 days.  We missed him so much and celebrated when he came home.  Joshua took him and picked him up from the airport, so we were ready when they arrived at our house.  It was a special time!



I can't remember the exact date, but she started walking at the beginning of June right after we returned from celebrating her birthday in Johns Creek!

Learning how to do the Rubik's Cube with Joshua

Birthday and Anniversary

We were blessed to have Gregg home with us for the week of my birthday and our anniversary.  It was a wonderful week spent together celebrating and enjoying one another.




Outtake from our photographer, Zeke!


We had a late birthday/graduation celebration for Lily Faith (and me) and Nikita with the Cherians.  We had lunch at The Station in downtown Americus.  It was a wonderful time together!

The whole group!

Cherian and Lily Faith taking a selfie!

Beautiful Nikita!
Nikita opening her Scripture pillow from us


The handmade candle holder that was part of my gift from the Cherians.  Sheeba made it and I am so honored.
Part of the card Sheeba and Nikita made for me with my name and Revelation 21:27


Trying to get one of the 3 of them before lunch!

Sweet matching sisters


We spent the day together for a "day date" for our anniversary.  It was wonderful!

9 years of blessings

Johns Creek

Zeke attended Camp All-American and Adalynn attended God's Little Princess ballet camp at Perimeter Church.  It was a wonderful, blessed, busy week and my parents' house!

Headed to church the day after we got there

Lunch after church

sweet cousins

love these little buddies

cousin time

First day of camp

ready for another day of camp

Adalynn enjoyed camp and swimming with Harper

We found my old ballet costume! (Megan ~ age 5, Adalynn ~ age 4)

Performance day

beautiful ballerina

Adalynn with Katie's daughter, Ellie 
They got to go see Cars 3 with Wynna and Granddaddy



Heading to the theatre!

Dinner and a movie at Studio Movie Grill...fun!!!

Father's Day

Gregg had to work on Father's day, but we spent the afternoon together when he got home.  We also got some cute pictures at our church in the photo booth!  We thank God for Gregg and the amazing, loving daddy that he is!  We had the plaque made below with Psalm 127:4-5 because of Gregg's love for archery and his children!


"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them." Psalm 127:4-5a

Photo booth

Gregg is a super dad!!



This one makes me laugh because it's so typical...Adalynn pulling Zeke and Lily faith oblivious!


Tennis Camp

Adalynn got to join Zeke for tennis camp this year.  The weather didn't cooperate very well, but they still had a blast.  We still have one more day to make up because of inclement weather.  





Fun with Dany and Samuel before tennis camp one day!

Zeke's Baptism

I had one of the greatest privileges of my life on May 30, 2017.  Zeke came to me and asked if he could pray to ask Jesus to be his Lord and Savior.  We looked up some Scripture and talked about what it means.  Of course, we've been talking about it his whole life, but I wanted to be certain he understood.  It was clear he did!  

We read several verses, but three that stick out in my memory are 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 10:9-10, and Ezekiel 36:26.  We talked about how Jesus was perfect, yet He took on our sins.  We talked about the importance of asking God for forgiveness and trusting Him to cleanse us and make us new.  Then, we must surrender and follow Him, making Him Lord of our life.  It is through the Holy Spirit in us and the work of Christ, not anything we can do with our own effort.  

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21


"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:9-10

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26

I prayed using some of those verses, then Zeke prayed.  It's a moment I'll never forget.  It was from his heart and was just perfect.  He asked for forgiveness of his sins and asked Jesus to become Lord of his life.  Hallelujah!



As soon as he was saved, he wanted to be baptized!  We talked to his Sunday school teachers and looked at Gregg's schedule.  June 25, 2017 worked out to be the date of his baptism.  His friend, Zachary, was also baptized that day.  Zachary is the son of Zeke's Sunday school teachers.  The boys have become good friends and it was special to have Zachary's dad, Matt Almeida, baptize them both that day.  We followed the church service with a surprise lunch celebration for the boys.  It was a wonderful day of celebrating God's goodness!

Reading before we headed to the church 
Walking into church


Taking a look at the baptismal pool

With Zachary


With my boy


Right before he was baptized







"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17



Daddy helping him afterward

The two "Z's!"



Surprise lunch

Gregg explaining that it was a surprise lunch to honor him and Zachary




The group

Celebrating!

Until next time

That was a lot, but thanks for reading.  I'll close with a few random photos and I'll post again next month to include 4th of July pictures.  I pray you are all having a blessed summer!

Last time wearing some of her favorite pjs before passing them down to Lily Faith.  They are size 3!

Big walking girl!

Just like Granddaddy!

Adalynn loves matching Sissy!


Oops...she figured out how to take her diaper off..haha!


Sharing Mommy's lap

Gregg took Zeke to another Rubik's Cube competition in Americus!  That is a cube mosaic.  Wow!

Dinner picnic while watching Inside Out...a special treat!